Description
JEWELS OF OPAR (Talinum paniculatum) dates to 1760 and was once classified as a portulaca. It is also known as Fame Flower and Pink Baby's Breath and in traditional Chinese medicine is known as Tu-ren-shen and used to treat many conditions. This beautiful and unusual flower has attractive lime-green succulent leaves from which arises up to 24" a cloud of tiny red "jewels" and pink flowers that last from June to frost. This is stunning as a filler in the vase and when I was offering bouquets at my local Farmers Market, this was a very popular addition to my arrangements. A self-seeding tender perennial, once established you will never be without. Easy to grow, tolerates dry conditions and requires little care. As an added bonus, it is edible -- you can add it to your salad. Both leaves and flowers are nutritious, containing Omega3! 100 Seeds.
GROWING TIPS: Seeds are very tiny and are light dependent germinators, but can be direct sown. You can also lift the tuberous roots and overwinter for replacement in Spring.
[We are tickled that this flower's name was used by Edgar Rice Burroughs in one of his Tarzan series.]